Gemotions

The car stopped with a gentle shudder of finality. Sarah stepped out, the air heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. Her gaze drifted toward the empty space where she had always pictured the towering birch.

A feeling like a slow leak, the air just escaping. Her hand reached up, as if to touch something that was no longer there. The breeze carried a faint whisper of lost potential.

She noticed a robin pecking at the ground nearby. It hopped, seemingly unconcerned, its bright eyes oblivious to the loss. Sarah closed her eyes briefly, then started the drive back home. The world around her felt muted, like the volume had been turned down.